Santo Domingo.- Defense minister Sigfrido Pared on Tuesday said to protect the border as part of national security, the military branches will heighten controls against smuggling and other criminal activities.

He said the military works closely with the Immigration Agency to control trafficking in persons, and with Customs to halt the the smuggling of merchandise.

Pared said his department works closely with the Environment Ministry against the depredation of forests and collaborates with the Antinarcotics Agency against drug trafficking.

He said other government also take part in the work to improve the living conditions of the border region’s inhabitants by building rural housing projects, through the Border Development Agency.

The official added that Armed Forces helps communities by building schools assist people to breed rabbits, handicraft workshops, among other activities.

Pared’s announcement comes after several local media reported what they called the ‘abandonment of the border’ by Dominicans, on lack of opportunities to make a living.

From: United States, Guillermo President 2016 Because Our Future Depends On It!

Back to reality!

The Haiti-DR wall

The idea originally came from the Haitians themselves when they started building a wall in order to prevent contraband from the Dominican Republic. The Haitian government wants to charge more import taxes.

Today's Diario Libre back page editorial, Tuesday 17 June, makes light of the first statements by the country's newest legislator, Marino Vinicio Castillo, who proposed the construction of a border wall between the two countries. Editor Ines Aizpun comments that it is all nonsense. "The Berlin Wall had to be toppled, and people jump over the Mexican wall in sandals. How would we fund the construction if the DR can't bear any more loans?" asks the writer. "And it is foolish to do what others are doing on their own, and the Haitians, without known reasons, already took the initiative," she adds.

From: United States, Guillermo President 2016 Because Our Future Depends On It!

"Even, in their case, it would be good because they would employ their own people. And if they have work on that side, would not try to cross the Masacre River, let alone the wall. And the ILO (International Labor Organization), as a multilateral organization, or the international community, could monitor to ensure there is neither exploitation nor abuse, as would be the case if this were a Dominican project."

Meanwhile, Minister of Interior and Police described the proposal for the wall as "absurd" and said that what was needed is a wall of legality. Minister of Defense Sigfrido Pared Perez has also described it as "utopian," but was in favor of it being built in certain key areas.

Leading Church figures are divided on the issue. Monsignor Jose Dolores Grullon, bishop of San Juan de la Maguana and Elias Pina says it is a shameful idea, but Archbishop of Santiago, Ramon Benito de la Rosa y Carpio is in favor of its complete or partial construction.

Yes,I think that they are very confused,, and the Haitian embassy is not helping at all .I have an Haitian student whom I am teaching english and he has his visa but has no idea about the new law and he says his friends do not also ..It is a great pity if a good initiative will not proceed and we end up with the same illegal people here .

I have an Haitian student whom I am teaching english and he has his visa but has no idea about the new law and he says his friends do not also ..-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I have an Haitian student whom I am teaching english and he has his visa but has no idea about the new law and he says his friends do not also ..-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I don't believe that. Haitians are experts at playing dumb...... DOMINICANS DONT HAVE TO PLAY DUMB THEY LIKE ARE BORN DUMB AND STAY THAT WAY FOR YEARS DOING THEIR JAIL SENTENCE AT RIKERS......U GUILLERMO LOVE TO DISH IT OUT FOR PEOPLE DOWN ON THEIR LUCK AND ARE Now VULNERABLE U WANT TO SQUASH THEM TRY TO SQUASH ME MISTER I'm Not WEAK NOR VULNERABLE F----FACE

don't believe that. Haitians are experts at playing dumb...... DOMINICANS DONT HAVE TO PLAY DUMB THEY LIKE ARE BORN DUMB AND STAY THAT WAY FOR YEARS DOING THEIR JAIL SENTENCE AT RIKERS......U GUILLERMO LOVE TO DISH IT OUT FOR PEOPLE DOWN ON THEIR LUCK AND ARE Now VULNERABLE U WANT TO SQUASH THEM TRY TO SQUASH ME MISTER I'm Not WEAK NOR VULNERABLE F----FACE---------------------------------------------------------------------------------danny00 You're so dumb, that you put a condom in your computer so it wouldn't catch a virus. -

danny00 I am going to bed now. I have to go to work in the morning. I am not like you, who has to go out to catch worms. I'd like to leave you with one thought, but I'm not sure you have anywhere to put it! -

Stop offending each other here, grow up people whats wrong with you people.---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------What do you mean what's wrong? There is no vaccine against stupidity.Now don't tell me you did not know that.

Why your offending me now???????-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Don't take it personal............I thought you were just joining the party. In the mean time watch out for the idiot behind me.I don't want you to get hurt. Its best you stay out of the way. You just might get a pie in your face.

Government spokesman attributed the proposal to people who feel disheartened, desperate and bewildered, because the National Reorganization Plan of Foreigners in an irregular situation is working "very well."